Game apparatus



M. E. PESTER, F, C. PORTER AND W. G. HOFMAN.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3. 1920.

1,370,479, Patented Mar. 1, 1921.

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MALI/7M q HOFMHN UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAXWELL E. PESTER, FREDERICK C. PORTER. AND WILLIAM G. HOFMAN, 0F BRIDGE- PORT, CONNECTICUT.

GAME APPARATUS. 7

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 3, 1920. Serial No. 355,912. 7

field and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved form of game apparatus including a table and a series of balls to be rolled thereon, such as is adapted to be used in public amusement places.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved form of game apparatus including a table having a series of runways leading to a conical shaped receptacle, and a series of balls which may be simultaneously played in the runways by a number ofpersons, each with view of being the first to get the ball in the receptacle. Further to include a ball elevating means whereby one or more of the balls may be raised to the top of the game table after being played, also to provide a signal for the players, an opening and closing means for the runway, a control lever for operating both the opening and closing means, the ele vator and signaling device.

With these and other objects in view the invention resides and consists in the construction and novel combination and ar rangements of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departure from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Similar characters of reference denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and upon which, e

- Figure 1 is a plan; view of our improved game apparatus including a few balls idly positioned thereon.

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the underside of the table, broken away.

Fig. 3 is a central vertical cross-section of the game table as shown in Fig. 1. I

Fig. at is an enlarged detail cross sectional V ew of a portion of the table and receptacle ring shown in Fig. 8, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail the parts shown in Fig. 4.

As will be noted from the drawings, the game apparatus is constructed in the form of a round table, and obviously may be made up in any desired size according to the available space to be occupied and the number of players to be accommodated. The top of the table is of a general conical shape with a series of runways leading from the plan view of outer edge portions to the center and is sup:

ported upon legs, and provided with an operating lever forming a controlling means whereby the attendant may signal the players and open the runways of the machine. The players may be either seated or standing around the table in position to operate the balls at a given signahby rolling the same down inclined grooves, through the holes and into a receptacle where they are guided into alinement. The object of the game being to roll the ballswith such judgment and skill as to get the first ballthrough the machine.

Referring in detail to the characters of reference marked upon the drawings, 6 rep resents the top body portionof the table and Patented Mar. 1, 1921.

7 the several legs supporting the same.

These legs, as will be noted, each include ad justable means in the fo'rm of a screw '8 which is secured in the upper end of each leg and extend slightly up into the body of the table. A nut 9 is adjustably mounted upon each of these screws and serves to 'directly engage and support the underside'of the table. These devices form adjustable means for the table whereby the same may be set perfectly level irrespective of whether The a series of small spirit levels 14: which are properly set to aline with the top surface of the table and whereby the same may be properly leveled.

Runways 15 are formed in the incline top surface of the table and extend from theouter edge portion to the central portion and are all similarly curved. A series of holes 16 are formed through the central portion of the table one at the end ofeach runway so that when the balls have run down the incline grooves they will drop through the holes and in the receptacle 17 hung upon the underside of the central .por-

tion of the table.

This receptacle is of a conical shape and serves to receive the balls as they drop through the series of holes and to guide them down and out of the outlet 18 and into the runway 19 positioned immediately beneath the outlet and supported by the hangers 20 and 21. The conical portion of the receptacle as shown is formed of sheet metal andis carried by an annular ring 22 which includes an outwardly disposed annular flange slidably mounted in guides 23 securedto the under side of the table.

This ring further carries an inwardly disposed portion that is provided with a series of vertical holes, spaced to register with the holes 16 in the table, so that when positioned to aline therewith, will form an unobstructed passage through whichthe balls may drop into the receptacle. On the other hand when the flanged ring including the conical receptacle is turned slightly the holes in the ring are moved out of register with the upper holes 1 so as to close the passages formed thereby.

Upon this inwardly disposed portion of the ring is an extended hub portion 24 to which further parts are attached in a manner to be carried therewith. The glass 1 plate 25 serves to cover and incase the re ceptacle in a way to admit light, so as to see in, if necessary. The several braces 26 whose lower ends are secured to the hub are bound together by a wire loop 27 and serve to support the holder 28 carrying electric lamps 29 which are automatically turned on as the machine is set for operation. 30 represents cushions that are secured to the peripheral surface of the hub v w in position to aline with the several runways ing and closing the machine. This lever is also positioned to open and close an electrical circuit whereby a signal bell 33 is operated and the lights 29' turnedon or oil. 34L represents a contact plate attached to the underside of the table in line of movement with the lever 32 which serves as a means for opening and closing the circuit. These electrical. appliances would be connected with either batteries or a power circuit.

As before stated, our game table also includes an elevator 35 which is normally po- ,sitioned in line with the lower end of the and forming a guide in which the elevator may be raised and lowered and is operated by the lever 32 and is connected therewithby a cord 38 that is guided over the rolls 39 and 40 and through the eye 451 of the arm 42.

This connects the elevator with the operating lever so that when the lever is in the position shown in full lines the elevator is lowered to receive the ball and when the lever is thrown over to close the machine the elevator would be raised so as, to discharge the ball in the annular groove;

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A game apparatus of the class described, comprising a table having a series of holes through its central portion and a series of runways leading to said holes, a

receptacle beneath the holes to receive the balls through the holes and to form them in alinement, an opening and closing device for the holes, anda series of balls to be played through said runways and holes.

2. A game apparatus of'the class described, comprising a table having a series of inclined runways, a receptacle positioned in the central portion of the table and communicating with the runways, a rotatable member with means for opening and closing the passages from the runways to the receptacles, a runway positioned to receive the balls from the receptacle, and means to lift the balls to the top of the table.

3. A game apparatus of the class described, comprisinga table having a series of holes through its central portion and a series of runways leading to said holes, a series of balls to be played through said runways and holes, a cushioning device in alinement with the end of each runway, a single receptacle beneath theholes to receive the balls from the table and having a contractedoutlet to discharge one ball at a time. r i

4. A game apparatus of the class described, comprising a table having a series of inclined runways and an opening through the tahle at the foot each runway, a ro- Signed at Bridgeport in the county of 10 tatable carrier mounted on the central por- Fairfield and State of Connecticut this 31st tion of the table, a conical shaped recepday of January, A. D. 1920.

tacle secured to the carrier beneath the open- MAXWELL E. PESTER. ings, means carried by the carrier to open FREDERICK C. PORTER. and close the passages from the runways to WILLIAM G. HOFMAN. the receptacle, a lever and connections Witnesses:

therewith to operate the carrier and its O. M. "NEWMAN,

parts for opening and closing the runways. LILLIAN M. ALLING. 

